Packaging machine



y w. s. REYNOLDS 2,160,518

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet l llflllfl a. H g 3 Z a "7 in E I NV EN TOR.

WARREN S. REYNOLDS.

y 1939- w. s. REYNOLDS 2,160,518

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WART'QEN s. REYNOLDS.

ATTORNEY May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 BNN PE m2 VI INVENTOR. WARREN S. REYNOLDS.

I ATTORNEY May 30, 1939.

W. S. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WHRREN 5. REYNOLDS.

A T TORNEY May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 rlllllL 1.\'VE.\'TOR. WA R'REN s. REYNOLDS.

ATTORYEY May 30; 1939;

w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING momma Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 May 30, 1939- w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 INVENTOR. WARREN s. REYNOLDS.

ATTORNEY May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 0 N m NY N M 0 N N N M w W Y B w. s. REYNOLDS 2,160,518

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1937 13- Sheets-Sheet ll May 30, 1939.

May 30, 1939. w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE 13' Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed May 13,. 1937 INVEN'TOR. WARREN S."REYNOLDS.

ATTORNEY May 30, 1939. w. s; REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE 1s Sheds-Sheet 13 Filed May 13, 1937 m awlviw INVENTOR.

WHRREN S. REYNOLD 5.

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1939 PACKAGING MACHINE Warren S. Reynolds, Stratford, Comm, assignmto Remington Arms Company, Inc'., acorporation of Delaware Application May 13, 1937, Serial no. 142,391

66 Claims.

age without reference to the particular articles contained in the package and that the characteristics of the package itself may vary widely.

As a specific embodiment, a machine will be described for the completion of the packaging of .22 caliber cartridges in a package of the tray and tube type. The tray is a paper board box with an open top. The tube is preferably of paper board folded and pasted to form a continuous piece encircling the top, bottom and sides of the tray, and provided with end flaps adapted to be turned upwardly and inwardly after the insertion of the tray, thus completing the package. The machine contemplates means for receiving loaded trays, and other means for receiving tubes in a folded or fiat condition. The fiat tubes are stacked in a suitable holder and are removed one at a time from the bottom of the stack. The tube thus removed is opened and shaped to receive the loaded tray, then placed in a feed chain by which it is carried in turn to several operating stations. At one of these stations the loaded tray, which has entered the machine on a feed belt, is inserted through one of the open ends of the tube. The

portion of the end-flap which in the finished package extends inwardly above the tray is then bent upwardly with respect to the end flap proper.

The end flaps themselves are then bent upwardly, while the inwardly extending parts thereof are guided into the tube above the loaded tray. The

package thus completed is then removed from the chain and inverted toenable printing onthe bottom thereof of certain identifying data. Subo stantially all operations of the machine are performed through spring connected parts adapted to yield in the event normal movement is obstructed by the accidental displacement of the materials being operated upon or any other cause. The machine contemplates the packaging of cartridges; hence, it is so constructed that if car-.

machine is the end from which finished packages are delivered; the "rear of the machine is the opposite end, and the left side" is the side to the left of an observer facing the machine at the front end. The normal" position of reciprocating parts is the retracted position from which they advance to perform their functions.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the complete machine, looking toward the left.

Figs. 2, 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D together constitute a complete plan view of the machine with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 shows the leftward portion of the ma. chine to the rear of the printer, the mechanism therein having to do particularly with the closing of assembled packages and their removal from the carrier to the printer belt; parts of the tray stopping and transferring devices are likewise included.

Fig. 2A is a plan to the rear of Fig. 2 and may be placed in the proper relation to Fig. 2 by aligning the shaft 41 as shown in these Figs. respectively. Fig. 2A includes the cam and a part of the drive mechanism for the shaping of tubes, the cartridge seating mechanism, and the tray transferring mechanism; as well as a portion of the carrier. Where Figs. 2 and 2A overlap, for greater clearness certain parties shown on each have been omitted from the other.

, The mechanism shown in Fig. 2B is located to the right of that shown in Fig. 2A. These figures may be placed in proper relation byv aligning the sections of shaft 53.

The mechanism in Fig. 2C is located near the front of the machine, the package inverter beingv common to Figs. 2 and 2C.

Fig. 2D is a plan of the printer, the printer belt being common to Figs. 2, 2C and2D.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the rear I end of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation,

substantially on the line 44 of Fig, 2B.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation, substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 23, showing the parts by which the fiat tube is held while being opened, and the mechanism for opening the tube and transferring it to the car- 4 showing parts of the flat tube storing and moving devices.

Fig. 6A is a transverse sectional elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 8.

Fig; 7 is a perspective of a tube opening and shaping device which will be called the "tube shaper.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, substantially on the line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 20.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2A, showing the means for seating cartridges in a tray,- detecting the presence of a tube in the carrier, inserting a tray into a tube in the carrier, guiding the tray during this movement, and for performing incidental functions.

Fig. 10 is a skeleton of a part of themechanism shown in Fig. 9, showing the tray inserting means in advanced position.

Fig. 11 is a transverse detached sectional elevation, substantially on the line ll.l| of Fig. 2, showing the tube flap creasing devices.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the carrier chain substantially on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional elevation, substantially on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 2, showing the flap closing means and devices for supporting and positioning the tube and tray assembly during the flap closing operation. I

Fig. 14 is a transverse section, substantially on the line l4-l4 of Fig. 2, showing the pick-o mechanism by which completed packages are re- Fig. 19 is a perspective of the tube after beingopened to receive a tray, and a loaded tray in assembly relation to the tube.

Fig. 20 is a side view of the tube and tray assembly after the creasing of the end flaps by the devices shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 21 is a perspective of the finished package.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, substantially on the line 22-22 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, substantially on the line 2323 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary detail of a yoke for holding end flaps in position for movement to final box-closing position.

Support and drive mechanism The machine is supported upon a suitable bench or stand of rugged construction, the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings -.comprising a flat table 25 having rigidly secured thereto depending side skirts 26 and 21 and end skirts 28 and 29, the whole being supported by suitable uprights, preferably in the form of channels identifled by the numeral 30.- The source of power is preferably an electric motor identified as 3| suitably supported beneath the table 25. The motor 3! is preferably provided with a sprocket wheel and drives a shaft 32 through mechanism providing both a slip connection and means for moving the shaft by hand which may be constructed as follows, reference being made to Figs.

20, 14 and 15:

Loosely mounted on shaft 32 is a sleeve 33 upon which rotates a sprocket wheel 34 connected through a sprocket chain 33 to the sprocket wheel on the motor 3|. Keyed to sleeve -33 are plates 33 and 31. Interposed between plates 33 and 21 and the hub of sprocket wheel 34 are disks 33 of a suitable friction material, such as leather, and the disks are pressed into frictional engagement with the hub of sprocket wheel 34 by suitable means such as a spring 33 abutting a' collar 40 fixed to sleeve 33. Plate 31 is provided with a hub 4| terminating in clutch teeth 42 engaging similar clutch teeth on a collar 43 keyed to they shaft 32 and held in operative position by a suitable spring 44. A hand wheel bevel gear 46 carries another bevel gear 5i meshing with a bevel gear 62 on a shaft 53 supported inbrackets such as 34 and 55 (Fig. 3) secured to the underside of table 25. mechanism are moved through appropriate connections to one of the shafts 32, 41 and 53. It will be noted that the shafts are all geared together, thus parts deriving their movement from any one of them can be synchronized with parts moved by any other. Bevel gear 43 is loose on shaft 41 and is connected therewith by a toothed clutch member 56 splined to shaft 41 and urged into engagement with the hub of gear 43 by pose and operation of this clutch will hereinafter appear..

Tray receiving mechanism Trays loaded with the articles to be packaged, such as cartridges, are received at the rear of the machine on a belt 53 (Figs. 2A and 14) which traverses a shallow groove 53 in the top and near the left side of table 25, and passes over a pulley 60 on shaft 32. The loaded traysare carried along by belt 53 to a point wherethey are aligned with and thrust laterally of! said belt into the outer packages or tubes in the manner to be hereinafter described.

A tray loaded with rim cartridges as received on belt 58 is illustrated in Fig. 19. It should be noted that adjacent cartridges are reversely positioned, the projecting rims of half the cartridges being at the top and each such Means are provided for holding a stack of Allpartsofthesuitable means such as a spring 51; .The pur-.- I

E adjacent" the 'botto'm'jwhich' forms the fendlof thefshapediend closedgtube' .(Fig -=21) and a tipf '1; :corrects an'y tendency ofthe tube to sag in the middle'as it is advanced. The forward "moveap'ertured" base 52 (Figs. 23,3 and 4) s'uppor tedf above theftable on axbracket HI and upwardly andrearwardly curving rack forming posts .63, 64, 65 and 68, extending from said base and soy I extendfrom th side D" 6 uses two 'section's1ai* section F whichlinthe finished package: projects inwardly beneath the tOpnA and'above-the tray, he;

flattube holder orfstorin'g device comprises an spaced as to engage the fiat tubes in the manner illustrated in Fig. 18, thereby holding a stack of actuates a lever 68 pivoted at 89 in a bracket 10 supported from table 25. Lever 88 is provided with a cam following roller II which is supported on an eccentric portion of a stud fast to the lever, and is held in contact with the surface of cam 61 by suitable means such as a spring I2.

The opposite end of lever 68 is formed into a shoe 13 (Figs. 23 and 4) to slidably hold a block I4 apertured to rotatably receive a pin I depending from a tube feeding slide I6. Said slide reciprocates in a guide plate 11 secured to the underside of table 25, said table being apertured to permit the alignment of the tube engaging parts of slide 16 with the lowermost tube held in the stack above the table. Said tube engaging parts comprise a pair of bars 18 secured to, the slide 16 and abutting forwardly facing shoulders I9 thereon. The forward ends of bars 18 (Fig. 6), which comprise tube engaging cutouts 80 and inclines 80I meeting cutouts 80 in sharp tube separating edges, project by an amount slightly more than the thickness of one fiat tube above adjacent upwardly and rearwardly curved surfaces 8| on slide Hi. When slide I6 is retracted the rearward edge of the lowermost tube in the stack is supported on the forwardly extendinganddownwardly inclined fingers 82 of a yoke secured to a post 83 fixed in the guide plate 11 and projecting upwardly through a suitable elongated slot in the slide 18.

The mid-portion of the forward edge of the lowermost tube in the stack is supported on a fixed downwardly and rearwardly inclined memtally flush with the top of table 25. At one side of the support 84 and projecting upwardly in front of the forward edge of the lowermost tube in the stack is a finger 85 comprising an elongated aperture which receives a fixed pivot 86 and is urged upwardly and rearwardly by a suitable spring 81, its movement. about pivot 86 being stopped by a stud 88. Above the supports 84 and MI and spaced therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of one flat tube is an abutment 89 which, acting in conjunction with the finger 85, prevents the delivery of more than one tube at a time.

' Normally the stack of tubes is supported at g Y i z iq f, ;a lqbb ei when will be termed fend; caper-- 1 wab iqiWeek the rgon'trb 'r member 8.4 1 and at tigers 8 As the slide '16' is adva ngfsurfaces 8l'thereonslide unde I Y most tube/elevating it, slightly'.("1 'ig;z:6)

tedgejor this tube is then in position' to be -'e n'-' 3 aged inffcut-outs,"80 of bars 18.1. The tubefisfl 1 thereby moved; forwardly from under the stack,

its. forwardjedge en aging and defi'ecting finger j Q85, whichjfinger'presses the tube upwardly and:

ment of more than one tube from beneath the stack is prevented by the abutment; and sep- At the endof the-forward movement of the" slide 18 the stack of tubes is supported by the upper surfaces of the slide bars 18, and when the slide. 16 is retractedto normal position the stack again rests on support 84 and fingers 82. The tube which has been removed from the stack lies on the table with its forward edgecontacting an aration ",of jth lowermost tube from the tube" I above it ,in'the stack is facilitated by incline 80I,

abutment 90, and is in position to be opened. As

the slide 18 is retired and duringthe opening operation said tube is held in this position by mechanism which, as shown in Figs. 2A, 2B, 3

and 5, may be constructed as follows:

A box cam 9| on shaft 41 controls a cam following roller 92 mounted on a link 93. Adjacent the cam the link 93 is widened and the wide portion comprises an elongated aperture to receive a block 94 rotatably mounted on shaft 41, and

adapted to slide in the elongated aperture in the link, being held therein by vertically extending flanges 94I thus, shaft 4'! guides the movement of the link. Link 93 is joined to a short link 95 by a connection so arranged that the thrust of this purpose, link 93 carries a sleeve 98 which slidably receives the end portion of link 95.

Studs 9! project laterally from link 95 through slots 98 in sleeve 96, and form an abutment for a spring 99 encircling sleeve 98 and abutting a part, such as one or more studs 96I secured to said sleeve. This connection is typical of many utilized in the machine, whereby obstruction of the normal movement of actuated parts results merely in the temporary compressing of a spring, without injury or undue strain on any of the mechanism. Link 95 has an adjustable connection with a short link I00 which has a pivotal connection at IOI with a; downwardly extending arm I02 of a lever having a fixed pivot at I03 and a transversely and substantially horizontally extending arm I04. Pivoted to the arm I 04 at I I05 is a. head I06 from which depend two pairs 'of pins 101 and I08. 'When the head I96 descends, pins I08 engage the upper surface of'the end fiaps of the fiat'tube which has been positioned for opening in the manner heretofore described, firmly holding the tube against the top of table 25. Pins I01, which are longer than pins I08, pass behind and engage the rearward edge of the tube, thus confining it between said pins and the stop shoulders 90. The pivotal mounting of head I06 on arm I04 insures 'engagement of both pins I08 with the end flaps, and excessive rotation of said head is prevented by the engagement of a stud I06I projecting from the head with the margins of a slot IBM in arm I04.

Tube opening Two separate trains of mechanism are utiiized in the operation of opening tubes and shapwith a roller II2 engaging'the track in box cam IIO. Link III is widened and slotted to straddle shaft 41 and its outer end is guided in a bracket II3 fixed to the table skirt 21. The inner end of link III is received in a sleeve II4 on a link H5, said sleeve being provided with a slot 6 through which projects a pin II1 secured to link III. Pin I I1 receives one end of a spring IIO,

the opposite end of the spring being supported on a pin I I 9 projecting from sleeve I I4. The spring II is of sufiicient stiffness to transmit motion for the normal operation of the .parts connected to link II without distortion. If the movement of said parts is obstructed, movement of the link II I by its cam merely stretches spring IIO without injury to the mechanism. The inner end of link II5 is supported in a guide I and is provided with rack teeth I2I engaging a pinion I22 fixed to a short shaft I23. Shaft I23 carries a gear I24 which engages with a rack I25 guided in a frame I26 secured above the table 25. Depending from rack I25 is a short arm I21. To the lower end of arm I21 is connected by pivot I21I a member (Fig. 7) comprising a pointed finger I20 adapted to slide over the end flap of the tube which has been positioned to be opened, and to engage beneath the top A of such tube to initiate its opening. As finger I28 advances it thus slides into and opens the tube, the

end of the tube top A moving upwardly along surface I29 of the finger as it is opened. The

,width of the finger I20 is substantially the height of the open tube. Connected to and moving with the finger I20 is a finger I30 having-a longitudinally and laterally inclined end I3I which engages within the tube when it has been partially- Projecting upwardly from the fiat tube transferring slide 16 is a stud 10I adapted, near the end of the forward movement of the slide, to engage to a lever 162 pivoted at 163 and having a pin andslot connection 164 with a slide bar 165 and held in retracted position by a spring 166. Bar 165, which slides in a suitable guide fixed to the table, terminates in a hook 161 adapted to engage a shoulder 160 on the finger I30. Said finger and associated parts .are thus latched in retracted position until the fiat tube transferring 'a,1eo,s1a

slide 10 has substantially completed its normal movement, at which time finger I30 etc. are released by the engagement of stud "I with lever 102. It should be noted that when movement of the transfer slide and the tube opening devices is thus obstructed, the springs comprising part of their connections to their driving devices are stressed in the manner heretofore described and thus the obstruction to movement is without injury to any part of the mechanism.

As the frame comprising fingers I20 and I30 completes its tube opening movement shoulders I32 thereon engage the end of the opened tube and in a subsequent additional movement of this mechanism eifect the transfer of the opened tube onto a carrier chain to be presently described. Before this operation and during the tube opening movement of fingers I20 and I30 the opening of the tube is assisted by a device engaging the tube laterally. This device may be constructed as follows:

A cam I33 (Figs. 2A and 3) mounted on shaft 41 and having a longitudinal throw is engaged by a roller I34 on an arm I36 secured to a short shaft I36 supported in the table skirt 21. The roller is held in contact with the cam by a spring I31. An arm I30 secured to the inner end of shaft I36 is coupled to an arm I39 loose on said shaft by a spring I40. A link I connects arm I30 with an arm I42 depending from an arbor I43 supported in brackets I44 and I45 secured to the table 25. To the inner end of arbor I43 is secured an arm I41 terminating in a head I40 (Figs. 23 and 4), which head extends upwardly through the table 25 between the shoulders.00 which it will be recalled form an abutment against which the fiat tube is placed on being transferred from the stack of tubes.

The timing of cams H0 and I33 is such that the head I40 moves forward against the side of the tube soon after the finger I28 enters the tube, thus the opening of the tube initiated by finger I20 is assisted by pressure of the head I40 against the side of the tube. The tube being thus fully shaped and ready for movement onto the carrier chain, the head I40 is retracted, and the pins I01 and I00 are lifted a distance sufiicient to clear fingers I20 and I30 and the tube carried thereby. After the lifting of said pins I01 and I00, the

tube carrying frame comprising fingers I20 and I30 executes the second portion of its advance movement to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, placing the opened tube in one of the buckets of the carrier chain. Above the carrier chain at this point is a cover piece I49 provided with a spring pressed hook I50 which is engaged and deflected by the top of the advancing tube and near the end of the tubes advance movement drops behind the tube top and strips the tube from fingers I20 and I30 as these fingers are retired. 4

Carrier The carrier comprises a pair of sprocket chains I5I and I52 (Figs, 4, 8, 12 and 13) passing over a pair of sprocket wheels I53 secured to a transversely extending shaft I55 and a second pair of sprocket wheels I56 fixed on a transversely extending shaft I50. To prevent sagging, the upper reach of the sprocket chains is preferably supported on rails I54 (Fig. 13) of a width to be received within the side flanges of the sprocket links. At regular intervals the outerside links of the sprocket chains are replaced by flanges I63 extending from carrier buckets identified facilitating the insertion of tubes into the buckets, as heretofore described, while the left end bevels are utilized in the insertion of trays into the tubes in a manner to be hereinafter described. The side walls I62 of the buckets comprise recesses I64'(Fig. 13) for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. By means of the carrier, the tubes and tube and tray assemblies are moved successively to positions for the performance of the several operations outlined at the beginning of this description. For this purpose, the carrier is intermittently advanced in steps of movement equal to the spacing of the buckets I 60. Mechanism for this purpose may be constructed as follows:

Secured to the shaft I58 is adisk I65 (Figs. 20, 8 and 14) provided with a spring housing I650 containing a spring I65I and a clutch ball I652. Said clutch ball I652 is urged by its spring into clutching engagement with clutch recesses I653 in a ratchet wheel I66 actuated by a pawl I61 mounted at I61I on an arm I68 of a member be moved by the operating mechanism about to.

be described when the movement-of the carrier is obstructed and, after such slippage occurs, reengages the carrier in proper relation with its own operating devices and other mechanisms with which it cooperates. The pawl is held in operative position by a suitable spring, as shown at I69. Integral with or rigidly connected to the arm I68 is a'second arm I to which is joined at "I a connecting piece I12, providing an adjustable connection with a link I13. The link I13 extends longitudinally, and at the rear of the machine is pivotally joined to a lever I14 (Fig. 3) having a fixed pivot at I in a housing I16. Lever I14 carries a cam following roller I11 which contacts the periphery of a cam I18 mounted on operating shaft 53, which shaft, it will be recalled, rotates in synchronism with shafts 41 and 32. Roller I 11 is held in contact with its cam by means of a suitable spring I19.

Tube and tray assembly The various operating stations along the carrier may be so located that there isone carrier bucket I60 in an idle position between successive operating stations. Thus, a tube having been inserted in one of the carrier buckets in the manner heretofore described, the first stepv of movement of the carrier moves this tube to a position in which no operation is performed. The next succeeding movement of the carrier brings the tube to a tray inserting station. The mechanism for inserting a tray at this point may be constructed as follows:

As heretofore described. trays of cartridges or other articles are received on the carrier belt 58 and are carried forward on this belt to position for being moved laterally from the belt and into amount sufficient to permit loose articles to pass thereunder. To a guide strip I83 extending along the right margin of the tray belt is secured an arm I84 extending diagonally from the end of the guide strip I83 and terminating adjacent the left edge of the carrier slightly forward from the front edge of the carrier bucket I60 which is in tray receiving position. The outer or left edge of the tray belt is guarded by a strip I85. The purpose of arm I84 and strips I83 andI86 is to direct to and retain on the tray-belt for ejection from the machine over pulley 60' any articles which may be dislodged from a tray prior tater during the tray'inserting operation. ticles ,are thus kept from engaging any moving par s. ,I

Means are provided for properly seating the j articles in a tray immediately prior-to. the inser-.

tion of thetrayinto the tube. These means may be constructed as follows:

Secured to the shaft 41 is a cam' I9I, '(F 'ig. 2A) the periphery of which is followed by. a camroller' I92 mounted on'a lever I93 pivoted onanarbor I94. Roller I92 maybe urged into engagement with cam I9I by suitable means such as a plunger Loose ar-e I 95 actuated by a spring I96 housed in akportion of the heretofore mentioned bracket' H3.

The elongated hub I91 of lever I93 is connected with anarm I98 projecting laterally and forwardly and terminating in a latterly extending presser I99 located immediately above the tray on the belt which is in position to be moved into the tube. A manipulating handle 200 projecting upwardly from the hub I 91 enables the presser I99'to be lifted, and the entire assembly including cam follower I92 to be shifted rearwardly on the arbor I94 for the purpose of making desired adjustments or removing distorted trays from the carrier belt. The end ofplunger I95 is rounded and engages a recess of corresponding shape inv lever I93, and the plunger is retained. in its housing to permit ready engagement'and disengage-- ment of the plunger and the lever.

The mechanism for removing loaded trays one at a time from the ,beltand thrusting them into the tubes may be constructed as follows:

Shaft 41 carries a cam 20I '(Figs. 2A, 9 and 10) which is engaged by a roller 202 on a lever. 203 having a fixed pivot at 204 in bracket H3. The

upper end of lever 203 terminates in a shoe 205- s which slidably receives a block 206 bored to rotatably receive a stud 201 projecting from a rectilinearly moving pilot bar 208. To the pilot bar 208 is secured a crosshead 209 and to the crosshead are secured. a tray pusher bar 2") and a tray guide carrying bar 2. A spring 2I2 tensioned between the rear end of the pilot bar 208 and a fixed point on the supporting bracket II3 holds the cam roller 202 in engagement with the periphery of cam 20I and advances the assembly comprising pilot bar 208, pusher bar 2I0 and tray guide carrying bar 2| I when the cam 20I rotates to bring its low part opposite the roller 202. Likewise secured to the crosshead 209 at 2I3 is a manipulative handle 2I4 which permits the manual retraction of the tray guiding and pushing assembly against the tension of spring 2I2 when desired.

The pilot bar 208, pusher bar 2I0 and tray guide carrying bar 2| I, are guided for rectilinear movement in supporting members secured to bracket H3 and identified as 2I5 and 2I6. Pilot bar 208 and pusher bar 2"] are rigidly secured to crosshead 209, while tray guide carrying bar 2 has a frictional connection with said crosshead comprising aslot 2I1 in the bar which receives a stud 2I8 secured in the crosshead and carrying members 2I8 of a suitable friction main the forward support 2I5 permits the bar a slight lateral movement for a purpose which will presently appear.

In front of support 2I5 the bar 2 terminates in a laterally extending head '223 which is apertured to rotatably receive a stud 224 projecting laterally from an arm 225, which arm extends forwardly above and beyond the tray carrying belt. To the forward end of arm 225 is secured a tray-guiding and bucket-aligning shoe (Fig. 17) identified generally by numeral 228. Said shoe comprises spaced downwardly and forwardly extending flanges 221 and 228 which define a tray guiding passage in alignment with the tray pusher bar 2I0 and the carrier bucket I80 which is in tray-receiving position. The portions of the inner (tray engaging) faces of flanges 221 and 228 adjacent the tray carrying belt are cut back to form a widened tray receiving mouth, and the lower rear comers of said flanges are notched to receive supporting ledges projecting respectively from the cut-out corner of arm I80 and. a plate 244 to be presently described. At their forward ends the outer walls of flanges 221 and 228 are beveledinwardly as indicated at 229, the inclination of these surfaces substantially corresponding to the bevel I83 of the end portions of the sides I82 of the'carrier buckets I80. The inner or tray guiding faces'of flanges 221' and 228 are spaced apart the width of a tray, which distance is equal to or slightly less than the interior width of the tube held betweentheside walls I82 of the carrier bucket.

The normal position of crosshead 209 and" associated parts is shown in Fig. 9. The end of tray pusher bar 2I0 stands slightly back of the left edge-of belt 58 and the flanges 221 and 228 are clear of the carrier buckets I80. As the shaft 41 rotates to bring the lower parts of the, cam 20I opposite roller 202, the crosshead advances and in its initial movement both the tray pusher bar 2I0 and the tray guide carrying bar 2 advance together. The tray on the belt in engagement with the stop arm I80 is picked up by the end of the pusher bar and moved transversely off the belt. The shoe 228 advances until the inwardly beveled ends of flanges 221 and 228 engage between the outwardly beveled ends of the sides of the carrier bucket I80 which is in trayreceiving position. The lateral movement of the bar 2| I provided by its mounting in the support 2I5 enables an accurate alignment of the passage between flanges 221 and 228 with the bucket and compensates for inaccuracies in the positioning of the bucket. As soon as the ends of flanges 221 and 228 are snugly engaged with the sides of the bucket, shoe 228 and associated parts cease to move forward, the bar 2 slipping through its friction connection to crosshead 209. The pusher bar 2I0 continues to advance, thrusting the tray before it into the widened mouth between the rear ends of flanges 221 and 228 through the passage defined by these flanges and into the vanced or bucket engaging position flange 221' is still in engagement with the face of cut-out I82 in the arm I80. Should the tray become jammed after partial insertion into the tube the engagement of the shoe flanges with the bucket 5 sides prevents the indexing movement of the carrier (the ball clutch IBM-I853 slipping in the manner heretofore described). The shoe 228 and the arm I80 are of sufliciently sturdy construction to cause the slipping of the clutch without injury. 10

Shaped tube control Devices controlling the movement of the tube and particularly the forward end flap thereof from the time the tube leaves the shaping mechanism up to and during tray insertion will now be described. It will be recalled that tubes are delivered from the tube shaping device into the carrier buckets I60 with bodies shaped to tray receiving condition and with end flaps lying flat, 20 and that they are stripped from the tube shaping device as said device is retracted by a spring pressed hook I50 (Fig. 5) supported in a carrier covering member or top rail I49. Said top rail I49 comprises a slotted horizontally extending 25 'web 23 I (Figs. 2A, 5, 8, 9 and 12), upwardly extending flanges 232 and 233, and a hinge portion 234 by which it is pivoted to a member 235 secured to table 25. This mounting permits the top rail I49 to be swung up and back from its normal position to facilitate minor adjustments or the removal of tubes which may be jammed therein. The underside of top rail I49 contacts the tops of tubes in the carrier, and the top rail may be adjusted to accommodatetubes of different height by the insertion or removal of shims 235I between the hinge member 235 and table 25.

It is desirable to provide for a limited amount of variation in the end of the movement of the tube shaping and transferring device, and for this reason the hook I50 is so arranged that the tube caught thereby has not fully entered the carrier bucket I80. Its movement into the carrier bucket is completed by a cam surface 238 on the inner face of a side plate 231 depending from top rail I49. The side plate 231 extends forward to the end, of top rail I49 and forms an abutment for holding the tube during tray insertion. On the opposite edge of top rail I49 is a second tube guiding side plate 238 (Fig. 2A) which terminates adjacent and in the rear of the tray inserting position. -At the tray receiving position there is secured to top rail I49 an outwardly and upwardly' inclined cam 239 by which articles in the tray are finally seated in position to clear the top of the tube just as they enter the tube. Aligned 55 with side plate 238 and extending forwardly from the tray inserting position is a second short tube guiding side plate 240. Top rail I49 terminatesv in an undercut ledge I by which it is supported on other parts to be described. To insure lateral alignment, side'plates 231 and 240 terminate in laterally inclined noses 242 received in correspondingly shaped recesses.

As a tube is advanced by the tube shaper into a bucket Iiii and under the web 23I of top rail I49, its forward end flap passes beneath side plate 238 and is received in a recess 243 in a horizontally disposed plate 244 secured to table 25. The recess 243 is bounded ,by a cam surface 245. As a tube carrying bucket leaves the tube receiving station, cam 245 directs the forward or left end flap into a passage 248 defined by the underside of plate 244 and the upper surface of a cut out in table 25. Plate 244 comprises a forof the tray inserting devices in the event that no tube is contained in the bucket in this'posi tion. These devicesmay be constructed as fol- 'lows:'-

'Pivoted on thepin ofhinge 234 of the member. I49 is'a lever 250 hav'inga' horizontally extendward extension 241 over which the trays pass in their movement into the .tubes as heretofore dcscribed. The gap between the tube guiding side plates 238 and 240 is of sufllcient width to provide clearance for the flanges 221' and 228 of the shoe 226 in their engagement with the beveled ends of the sides of the carrier buckets I60, as

heretoforedescribed. To the plate .240 is secured 2. depending flange 248, and on theoppositeside of member I49 a flange 249 depends from said plate 231, said flangesacting to guidev and hold the tube end fiapsdepressedhs the tube and tray assembly passes to the next operation.

Means are provided for'determining the presence of a 'tube" in the bucket I60 in tray receiving position, and fohpieventing the operation ing surface I which projects through a ,slot

in the web 2 3I- of member I49 in position to rest upon the top of the tube in thebucket I60 in tray-H receiving position. Lever 250 comprises. atransverse aperture 252 which receives a pin 25 3 secured in the flanges 232 and 233. Aperture 252 is of suflicient width to permit the 'leventhe movement necessary for the performance of its function, the purpose of the pin 253 being to hold the lever in place when the member I49 is lifted in the manner heretofore described. The free 1 head 209 is a ledge'266 adapted to receivea nose end254 of lever 250 underlies an adjustment screw 255 held in a transversely extending lever 256, which lever comprises an offset portion pivotally joined at 258m a lever 259 carried by a fixed pivot 260 projecting from the support 2I5. The connection 258 between lever 256 and lever'259 is i n the rear of the pivot 260. In front of the pivot 260 the lever 259 comprises a portion 26I of reduced width and having an upwardly and rear- 'wa'rdly inclined surface uponwhich rides a stud .262 projecting from, lever 256. The lever. 259

comprises arear end portion 263 of reduced 'width,

which portion passes through vertically elongated slots 264and 265 in-crosshead 209. and support ing member 2l6, Above theslots 264' incross- 261 projecting from the shoulder-at the forward end ofthe portion 253 or lever 25s. Normally the rear end of-lever259is in thedepressed position shown in l the drawings, and as the crosshead 209 advanc'estheslot' 264 therein traverses a part ofleVer- 259.; However, if there is no tube in the bucket I60in tray receiving position the portion 25I of lever 250 is unsupported and said lever drops, removing the support of screw 255 and dropping the forward-end of lever 256. By reason of the engagement of the stud 262 with the part 26I of lever 259 in front of its pivot, such movement of lever 256 raises the rear end of lever 259, bringing the nose 261 above the ledge 266. The initial advance movement of crosshead 209 engages said nose above said ledge, and further forward movement of the crosshead and associated parts, including operating arm 203, is thereby prevented. The rotation of shaft I41 carries cam 20I away from roller 202 on arm 203, but as the cam completes a full rotation it again engages roller 202, retracting crosshead 209 and d'sengaging ledge 266 from nose 261. If the indexing movement of the carrier taking place in the meantime has brought to tray receiving position a bucket containing a tube, the free end of lever 256 is supported, and the free end of lever 259 can drop to normal position, permitting normal movement of the tray inserting mechanism. i

The pivotal connections between the tray guide carrying bar 2I I and. arm 225 and between lever 256 and lever 259 permit arm 225 and lever 256 to be swung upwardly and backwardly clear of the table; access is thus had tothe tray belt.

It is desirable at this time that the tray insertingmechanism be held in retlractedposition. Means are therefore provided for elevating the rear end of lever 259 to engage the nose 261 above ledge266 when lever 256 is swung upward and backward. This device comprises a flat spring 268 (Fig. 10) securedto the underside of lev'er 259 and extending rearwardly andlaterally beneatha cam associated'with the pivot portion" Movement of lever 256 about its of lever 256. p pivot stresses said spring a suflicient amountto cause'rotation of lever 259-aboutpivot 260 when this lever is free for suchsmovementby the'retraction offithe crosshead 209 to clear the nose 261.' I Flap bending,

In the operation followin the insertion of a tray into a tube in 'oneof the buckets I60 in the manner above described the tips F of the end flaps, which in the finished package project inwardly beneath the tube top and'above the tray,

are sharply creased or bent oflfrom the parts E of said flaps which form the ends of the package. Two indexing movements of the carrier convey the tube and tray assembly from tray inserting position to the flap bending position. The

flap bending devices and their operation are as follows:

Secured to shaft 41 is a cam 269 (Figs. 2 and 11) controlling a cam follower 210 carried by a link 21I, which link is guided on the shaft 41 by means of a block 212 rotatably mountedon said shaft and slidably held in an elongated aperture in a wldened portion of the link 2 1I. .The end of link 21I is receivedim a sleeve 213' forming part of a link 214, links 214 and' 21I being joined bya spring 215; thus, providing the usual connection adapted to yield if movement of the operated part is obstructed. The roller 210' is held in contact with the peripheryof cam 269 by a suitable each of the flap bending arms comprises a series of shoulders 284, 285 and 286, for the purpose of operating upon the end flaps of packages of different depths. The typical machine illustrated may by simple adjustments be made to handle tubes of any one of three difierent depths, and accordingly the arms 218 and 283 have been shown as each comprising three shoulders at different distances from their pivots, but it will be understood that the number of different depths of tubes that can be accommodated may be increased within reasonable limits. Cooperating with the shoulders 284, 285 and 286, are the depending ends 281 of a yoke 288 suitably 

